Bowling ball grip gauges



March 28, 1961 E. w. DoYLE BOWLING BALL GRIP GAUGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OCT.. 26, 1959 IN VEN TOR. 1FL/V5? W DOVE' BY M March 28, 1961 E. w. DoYLE BOWLING BALL GRIP GAUGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1959 l l l l I I 1 l r 1 1 u a m. M m m @MM gam March 28, 1961 E. w. DOYLE BOWLING BALL GRIP GAUGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 0G13. 26. 1959 INVENTOR. ,F/VER PV. 90)5 W, @M fm March 28, 1961 E. w. DoYLE BOWLING BALL GRIP GAUGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed OCT.. 26, 1959 feza. /92 zz l INVENTOR. 04512 w. paf/f A fro/@VE V5' BOWLING BALL GRIP GAUGES Elmer W. Doyle, 919 S. 102ml, Tacoma, Wash.

Filed Oct. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 848,585

14 Claims. (Cl. 33 174) This invention relates to an improved device for fitting a bowling ball to the players hand and more particularly is directed to improvements which facilitate the more accurate and skillful measurement of location and angular relationship of linger and thumb holes optimum for each individual player. Further, the invention also concerns improvements in such devices which facilitate the utilization of these measurements in the appropriate marking and drilling of bowling balls. The invention is herein illustratively described by reference to the presently preferred embodiment thereof; however, it will be recognized that certain modifications and changes therein with respect to details may be made without departing from the underlying essentials involved.

Bowling ball grip devices for measuring individual hand requirements have been proposed in the past. On the basis of these proposals it is not new in the art to' provide a simulated bowling ball with adjustably positioned linger and thumb stalls which permit the prospective bowling ball customer to find that combination of hole sizes, locations and angular relationships which provide the desired grip. Moreover, certain of the prior proposals included measuring gauges associated with the adjustable linger stall elements so that readings could be taken and recorded for later use in duplicating the information in setting up for boring of the customers ball. In general, the present invention is directed to improvements in devices of this general type.

These improvements in part relate to features of construction which provide for a more practicable and reliable mechanical device which can be produced at reasonable cost and which is easily assembled and disassembled for manufacturing and maintenance purposes.

A related object is such a device having adjustable nger and thumb stall units with means by which the mutually adjacent edges of the thumb stall and opposing linger stall bushings are compensatively adjusted throughout tilt adjustments thereof so that these edges remain substantially liush with or referenced to the casing or gauge sphere surface as required for attaining a truly representative feel sensation from the gauge duplicating that of a ball. This novel referencing action is particularly important in the case of bowlers using the socalled finger-tip grip.

A further and related object is a device of the kind described having mechanical adjusting means permitting changes in tilt angle or pitch of the digit stall bushing holders independently of spacing adjustments thereof, and vice versa.

Still another object is such a device with means facilitating accurately reliable transfer of digit stall positions from the gauge device directly to a ball to be drilled. More specifically, novel ball marking means are provided, including calibrated indexing plugs interchangeable with finger stall bushings, and an associated trammel gauge to transfer the positional data, such means being usable ina manner compensating or allowing for bore Mmm Patented Mar. 2S, 1961 eccentricity in the bushings or shift in the intersection of a bushing bore axis and the gauge reference surface with changes in bushing pitch angle, thereby simplifying the subsequent ball marking and boring operations.

`Still another object is a novel trammel or marking instrument cooperable with the specially calibrated linger stall plugs in order directly to transfer hole position and marl; the same on the ball to be drilled. A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of referencing elements mounted on the individual finger stall bushing holders to engage reference shoulders on the respective linger stall bushings and thumb stall bushing and, by effecting relative longitudinal sliding of the bushings in their holders, maintain their proper level in relation to the spherical gauge surface throughout angular adjustments of the bushing holders.

Other features reside n the construction by which iudependent adjustment of angularity and spacing of the individual bushing holders is accomplished, and by which the mechanism is readily manufactured at reasonable cost and is readily serviced and maintained. In this regard the finger stall assembly carriage is removable as a whole from the casing by simply disconnecting the holder actuators and the retaining springs which hold the carriage in guided relationship with the casing aperture edges.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully evident from the following description thereof by reference to the accompanying drawings. v

Figure 1 is a top view of the improved bowling ball grip gauge, with parts broken away to show details of construction.

Figure 2 is a sectional side view taken on line 2 2 in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3. in Figure 2, showing finger stall unit details.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectionalview taken on line 4 4 in Figure 2, showing thumb stall unit details.`

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 5 5 in Figure l, showing additional thumb stall unit details.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6 6 in Figure 1, showing still other details of the thumb stall unit.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 7v in Figure l, showing certain finger stall unit details.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 8 in Figure l, showing additional details of the same finger stall unit as in Figure 7. l Y h Figure 9'is a transverse sectional view taken on line 9 in Figure l, showing details of the other linger stall unit. Figure l0 is a top view of the gauge with three-point trammel in position for transferring hole location information from the index plugs substituted for the nger stall and thumb stall bushings, respectively. y Y

Figure ll is a side View showing the use of the trammel as in Figure l0.

-Referring to the drawings, the novel bowling ball grip gauge comprising the preferred embodiment of this invention preferably includes a casing or base 1t) in the vform of a hollow sphere or section of a sphere of the same outside diameter as a standard bowling ball. As

shown, this base is formed of sheet metal and comprises The various elements of mechanism comprising or associated with the finger stall and thumb stall units are mounted upon or within the casing in such a manner that the relative positions of the finger stall and thumb stall bushings may be varied at will both as to spacing and as to angular relationship, as will hereinafter be described. In this regard, it should be noted preliminarily that the illustrated gauge provides for two finger stalls and one thumb stall, according to the conventional practice. In some instances three finger stalls may be requested or desired, in which case provisions would be made, following the same teachings as those applied to the two finger stalls, to incorporate the third. The two linger stalls are formed by the finger stall bushings 12 and 14 seated in cylindrical finger stall holders or sleeves 16 and 18, respectively. The distance of separation between the sleeves is fixed. The finger stall bushings 12 and 14 are provided from a set of bushings of the same exterior diameter butof varyingbore sizes. Thesebores are eccentric totheir respective bushings so that the wall thickness of the bushings on the respective sides thereof at which the bushings are nearest to each other will be substantially the same for all bushings regardless of bore size. This assures that the spacing between linger stall bores will be approximately the same in all cases, based on the fact that the distance between the index linger and ring or third linger of the human hand is approximately the same in all adult persons. For the same reason, it is unnecessary to provide adjustability in the lateral spacing between finger stall bushings. The thumb stall bushing 20 is also provided from a set of similar bushings having different bore sizes. The thumb stall bushing is seated in a cylindrical sleeve or holder 22 similar to the finger stall bushing holders.

The depth in its holder to which each nger stall and thumb stall bushing may be inserted is established or limited by contact between a referencing element carried by the holder Aand a cooperable shoulder. on the bushing. Thus, in the case of the thumb stall bushing 20, one side of the bushing isflattened over its entire length except for the end portion 20a which forms a shoulder facing along the length of the bushing and engageable by the stop or lug 24a of the referencing element 24. The latter includes a supporting rod 24b slidably mounted in the ear 22a carried on the side of the holder 22 facing the finger stalls. A coil spring 24C encircles the end portion of the rod 24:5 which projects through the ear 22a and reacts between the end of the ear and a stop pin 24d carried by the extreme end of the rod in order to urge the rod inwardly of the casing. A pair of oppositely branching arms 24e on opposite sides of the lug 24a ride in sliding contact with the outer edges of parallel carriage plates 26 and 28 between which and by which the thumb stall holder 22 is mounted. These arms resist the inwardly directed propulsive force of spring 24C which spring thereby, in cooperation with the arms 24e, serves to maintain the reference lug v24a in a constant position in relation to the surface level of the spherical casing 10 throughout angularity adjustments of the thumb stall bushing 20. Variable tilting of the thumb stall bushing holder 22 is permitted by mounting the same on pivot pins 30 located near the outer extremity of the holder v22 and near the outer edges of the plates 26 and 28 as shown (Figures l and 2). As the thumb stall bushing holder 22 tilts about these pivot pins, the continued engagement between the reference lug 24a and reference shoulder at 20a on the bushing causes the bushing to shift longitudinally in the holder as necessary in order to maintain the outer edge of the bushing on the side thereof adjacent the linger stalls at the same level with reference to the surface level of the spherical casing.

This latter feature and the associated mechanical details involving referencing elements by which the edges of the finger stall bushings 12 and 14 on the side thereof adjacent thethumb stall unit are, like the thumb stall bushing, maintained at the level of the surface of casing lil will be evident from the drawings. Thus, linger stall holder 18 has an ear 18a which slidably receives the supporting rod 32b of referencing element 32. The latter has arms 32e which engage the outer edges of parallel plates 34 and 36 in order to maintain the lug 32a, hence the finger stall bushing 14, at the proper reference level throughout tilting movement of the latter. A similar ear 16a on the holder 16 provides support for the slide rod 38b of reference unit 38 associated with the other linger stall bushing 12. The arms 38e on unit 3S engage the outer edges of parallel plates 34 and 40 for reference purposes. Springs (unnumbered) similar to the spring 24e cooperate with the reference units on the linger stall holders in order to maintain the arms 32e and 38e in engagement with the edges of their reference plates.

Finger stall bushing holder 16 is mounted near its outer end on pivots 42 fixed in the plates 40 and 34 near the outer edges of such plates. Plates 34 and 40 comprise fixed parts of the dual linger stall holder as sembly. Finger stall holder 18, on the other hand, is similarly mounted on pivots 44 on plates 46 and 48 which are received and guided between the plates 34 and 36 for relative movement in a direction parallel to such plates. Such movement permits relative adjustment of the finger stall holder 18 toward and from the thumb stall holder 22, in any given position of the linger stall holder 16 relative to the -thumb stall holder.

Further details of the thumb stall unit will now be described. The casing has a rectangularly formed aperture 50 therein with sides equally spaced from a diametral (great circle) plane of the casing, and extending downwardly from a location near the crest or top of the casing in its normal position of use as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Slotted track plates 52 extend along the longitudinal side edges of the rectangular opening 50 within the casing and serve as guides for the thumb unit. The supporting plates 26 and 28 between which the thumb stall holder 22 is pivoted comprise the sides of a U-shaped carriage 54 engageable with the tracks 52, in order to permit guided movement of the thumb stall unit lengthwise of the rectangular slot 50 with the thumb stall bushing tilt angle remaining constant relative to the moving radial thereof to the casing center. Such movement is effectuated by an actuator screw 56 having a knob 58 and connected to the carriage 54 through a ball joint 60 which permits rotation of the screw on its own axis and tilting thereof in relation to the carriage `54 as the latter moves along the tracks S2. A stationary nut 62 engaged by the screw is mounted in a receptacle 64 on the edge of the casing 10, causing the screw to feed lengthwise as it is rotated.

Changes in the angular relationship of the thumb stall holder 22, hence of the thumb `stall bushing 20, are effectuated by a second screw 66 threaded in a nut 68 which is fixed on the lower side of the carriage 54 on pins '70 which permit the nut 63 to turn on these pins as necessary in order to accommodate tilting of the holder 22. A ball coupling 72 interconnects the inner end of the screw 66 and the side wall of the holder 22 at a location such that the axis of the bolt is well offset from the pivot axis of the holder as defined by the pivots 30. Consequently, rotation of the screw 66 causes the holder 22 to tilt about the pivots 30 throughout the angular range Rt depicted in Figure 6. A pivoted indicator needle 74 cooperable with a scale 76 indicates the angular position of the thumb stall bushing 20. The indicator needle 74 is mounted on an arm 78 pivoted at 80 and having an opposite extension 82 which bears against the side of the holder 22 through the action of a return spring 84. This indicator mechanism as well as the tiltscrew mechanism is carried by the carriage means 54 and movable therewith along the tracks 52 as described.

Additional details of the finger stall assembly and as'- sociated parts will now be described. The casing has a geraete second elongated rectangular aperture 86 aligned withaperture 5) along a great circle of the spherical casing. Aperture 86 accommodates the finger stall assembly and extends in a direction generally transverse to the length or extent of the aperture Si). The aperture 86 is 1ocated just below the top of the casing on the side opposite from the aperture 5@ and has longitudinal edges which serve as guides or tracks for movement of the nger assembly carriage 88 in a plane perpendicular to the plane of movement of the thumb stall carriage. The carriage S8 generally comprises a plurality of interconnected plates and bars forming a rigid frame held in position within the casing by means of four retainer springs $8 anchored to the interior of the casing and drawing the carriage 88 outwardly into iirm physical contact with the interiorwall thereof. These coil springs 90 may be disconnected from the carriage 88 at will in order to permit removing the entire linger stall assembly rom the casing, upon suitable disconnection of the actuator elements to be described.

As shown, plates 4t), 34 and 36 comprise rigid parts of the carriage assembly frame and project outwardly slightly through the aperture S6, with ends engaging the longitudinal edges of this aperture so that such edges serve as guides for translational movement of carriage 83 actuated by the screw 92. This screw is threaded in the pivot nut 94 and connected to the plate 36 by a universal ball coupling 96 which permits rotation of the screw about its own axis and tilting of the screw in relation to the frame 88 as the latter moves along its track. A crossbar 9S rigidly interconnects the parallel plates 36 and 49, whereas a crossbar 10@ rigidly interconnects the parallel pivot plates 46 and 58 comprising the movable support for the nger stall bushing holder 18 as previously mentioned. A projecting lug or lugs 102 on the plate 58 engages a straight lineal track in the frame plate 36 as a guide for relative movement of the iinger stall holder 14 toward and from the thumb stall holder in any given position of the frame 88. Additional guidance for such relative movement is provided by a step or shoulder formation 164 on plate 46 engaging the plate 34.

rThe connecting bar 10i? extending between the ends of the plates 46 and 48 (Figure 7) serves as an anchor point for the actuation screw 108 which is threaded in the nut 111i carried by the crossbar 112 on the frame assembly 88. The screw 108 is rotated by a liexible shaft 114 connected to a shaft 116 which is journaled in a xed collar 11S and turned by a knob 120. As the shaft 116 is turned by knob 126, thereby turning the screw 108, the finger stall holder 18 is shifted one way or another as shown by the arrows in Figure 7. This movement is accompanied and permitted by rotation and 1ongitudinal sliding of the shaft 116 in the collar 118. Collar 118 is carried by a projecting ear 122 on the side of the casing 18 as shown.

Tilt adjustment of linger stall bushing holder 18 about its pivots 44 is eifectuated by means of the screw 124 threaded in the pivoted nut 126 and having at one end a tiltable and rotatable ball coupling 128 engagedwith the socket 136 mounted on the side of the holder 18. The screw 24- is rotated through a flexible shaft 132 which connects it with a rotating and sliding shaft 134 journaled in the bushing 136 and turned by a knob 138. Finger stall bushing holder 16 is tilted by means of a similar screw 14? threaded in a pivot nut 142 and at one end coupled to the holder 16 through a tilting ball coupling 144. At its opposite end this screw is connected through a flexible shaft 136 to the sliding and rotating shaft 14S engaged in the bushing 156 and turned by the knob 152. The bushings 156 15's are mounted in the end wall of the ear 122 beside the bushing 118 for shaft 116.

Flexibility of the coupling shafts 114, 132 and 146 (Figure l), together with free sliding action of drive shafts 116, 134 and 14S in their respective bushings,

V. permits lateral movement of the entire iinger stall assembly eiiectuated by means of the actuation screw 92 in any given position of tilt of the linger stall holders and of translation of the inger stall holder 18 toward and from the thumb stall holder (etectuated by screw 108). As previously indicated, mounting of the separately movable finger stall holder 18 in its own frame 100, 46, 48 permits translational movement of such holder toward and. from the thumb stall holder independently ofthe coupling between the screw 92 and the main frame 88 for the finger stall assembly.

Tilt angle of finger stall holder 18 is indicated by the needle arm 156 cooperating with the scale support 15,8 which projects outwardly through the casing 10, through an aperture 160 of a form and size to permit the scale support 158, which is an integral part of the iinger stall assembly, to move throughout the range of movement of the assembly. A return spring 162 cooperating with the needle extension arm 164 maintains direct contact of the latter with the finger stall holder 18 in order to cause the needle to follow the tilt movements of the holder. A similar needle 166 and associated indicator scale support 168 projecting through an aperture 170 in the casing 10 opposite the aperture 160 provides an indication of tilt angle of bushing holder 16 through the medium of the needle extension arm 172 and return spring 174.

An indicator scale 177 cooperates with an index marker represented by the frame bar or plate 34 to indicate relative displacement of the nger stall holder 18 in the inger stall frame, toward and from the thumb stall unit.

Translational movement of the thumb stall unit toward and from the linger stall assembly is indicated on a scale 173 on the casing 10 at one longitudinal edge of aperture 50 and cooperates with a scale index marker 180 on the movable frame plate 26. v

It will therefore be evident that the mechanism provides for adjustive translational positioning of the thumb stall holder 22 toward and from the finger stall assembly, independently of tilt position of the thumb stall holder, and for independent tilting of the thumb stall holder without regard to the translational position of `such holder in relation to the finger stall assembly. Moreover, the individual finger stall holders are independently tiltable without eliect on or from the position of translation thereof along the length of aperture S6, and without regard to the separately adjustive positioning of the finger stall holder 18 toward and from the thumb stall holder, etectuated by screw 168.

The mechanism is provided .with suitable indicators for all of the various adjustments and when a prospective bowling ball customer iinds the exact settings best suiting his grip requirements, a recording may be made of all of these indications. At the end of the day or other period of recordings, the setting may be reproduced inthe apparatus in order to transfer the information to a bowl-v ing ball to be bored with suitable finger stall and thumb stall holes.

The operation of transferring the information to a bowling ball from the apparatus shown and described thus far herein is an important additional part of the invention. In order to perform this function, the iinger stall bushings and thumb stall bushing are removed from their respective holders and are replaced by indexing plugs. Thus, the nger stall holder 16 receives a plug 186 which is generally similar to the finger stall bushing itself except its outer end is covered or closed and is provided with a transverse scale 186e graduated in aecordance with bushing hole sizes. Finger stall bushing holder 18 receives a similar plug 188 having a hole size scale 188a thereon. Thumb stall bushing holder 22 .re-

ceives a corresponding plug 192 having a scale 192a thereon which extends in a direction along the line of translational movement of the thumb stall holder and has markings which correspond to the angle of' tilt of the thumb stall holder 22. Each of these plugs has a shoulder thereon which engages the referencing elements 38, 32 and 24, respectively, in order to limit penetration of such plugs iu the finger stall and thumb stall holders in order thereby to reference the mutually adjacent edges of the thumb stall holder and finger stall holders to the surface plane of the casing 10, as in the case of the bushings themselves. This appears in Figure ll wherein the plug 192 is shown having a stop or shoulder 19211 while the plug 188`has a similar shoulder 13815. The scales 1S6a and 188a extend along the diameter line of the yrespective plugs in a direction transverse to the line of movement of the thumb stall holder.

In addition to the apparatus mounted on or supported by the casing 10, there is also provided a three-point trammel gauge 194 comprising an arm 196 which carries a transversely bored coupler 198 into opposite ends of which are journaled the angled ends of two arms 200 and 202 extending oppositely from the arm 196 in parallel relationship therewith. A sliding shoe 204 carrying a marker point 206 is mounted on the arm 196 and carries a set screw 208 which permits locking the shoe 204 in any given position along the arm 196. A similar sliding shoe 210 on arm 202 carries a marking point 212 and a locking screw 214. Likewise, a shoe 216 on arm 200 carries a marking point 210 and a set screw 220. The inturned ends of arms 200 and 202 have ya friction fit in the end bores of the coupler 19S and may be inserted and withdrawn therefrom by varying distances in order to vary the distance of separation between the arms 200 and 202 for setting these arms at different positions relative to the marking scales 18651 and 188a on the associated finger stall plugs. This frictional tit also permits articulated or swinging adjustment of the arm 196 in relation to the plane of -the arms 200 and 202 so as to permit the marking points of the trammel to be placed perpendicularly to the end faces of the respective finger stall and thumb stall plugs. The point 206 is placed on the line of the scale 192:1 of the thumb stall plug 192 and at that scale marking which corresponds to the tilt angle of the thumb stall holder. Simultaneously the marking points 212 and 218 are placed on the lines of the respective scales 188e and 186a and at the individual markings thereon which correspond to the hole sizes for the finger stall bushings associated with the particular customer. Thus, the marking points 212 and 216 are located at the precise points of the finger stall bushing hole centers at the gauge reference surface, whereas the marking point 206 is similarly located with relation to the thumb stall bushing hole center at the reference surface. In this latter regard, it will be noted that tilting of the thumb stall bushing holder 22 into different positions causes some shift in the point at which the bushing hole axis intersects the reference surface of the spherical casing` 10. This is due to the fact that the thumb stall holder pivots are necessarily somewhat recessed below the surface plane of the thumb stall bushing and thumb stall plug. A corresponding eect in the case of the finger stall holders is ignored because of the lesser angles of tilt required.

With the trammel points appropriately set as indicated, it is lifted from the gauge instrument and carefully placed on the surface of a bowling ball to be drilled. Thereupon, with a hammer or tapping instrument, the ends of the set screws 214, 216 and 208 are tapped in order to drive the marking points into the ball surface and leave indentations in the latter which may be enlarged with a center punch if desired in order to start a drilled hole. A suitable boring jig with angular adjustability of the drill axis thereof in relation to a ball holder may be provided in order to duplicate the angular relationships of the finger stall bores.

These and other aspects ofthe invention will be evident to those skilled in the art based on the foregoing description land illustration of the preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a bowling ball grip gauge, a casing of at least partial spherical hollow form having two digit unit apertures therein substantially aligned on a great circle, an outwardly open generally radially disposed digit stall bushing holder, carriage means mounting said holder within said casing and guided thereon to permit holder translational movement along an arcuate path in registry with one such aperture, pivot means in the movable portion of the carriage means supporting the holder therein to tilt variably in a plane extending parallel to said great circle, holder tilting means on the carriage, operable atwill tovary the holder tilt angle in any translational position thereof, a bored digit bushing removably insertable to varying depths in the holder to form a tiltable, translatable digit stall, and referencing means on the carriage and reacting on the casing to move lengthwise of the holder by tilting of the latter, said referencing means being engageable with the bushing and thereby limiting penetration of the bushing into the holder at a depth referencing the rim of such bushing to the casing at the side of the bushing adjacent the other digit aperture.

2. The bowling ball grip gauge defined in claim l, wherein the first-mentioned holder comprises a thumb stall bushing holder, and two finger stall bushing holders, carriage means mounting said latter holders within said casing and guided on the casing to lpermit holder translational movement .along an arcuate path in a plane perpendicular to said great circle and in registry with said other aperture, separate carriage-supported pivot means supporting each of said latter holders to permit variable independent tilting thereof in respective planes parallel to the first-mentioned plane, separate holder tilting means on the latter carriage, operable at will to vary the tilt angles of the respective finger stall holders in any translational position thereof, bored finger stall bushings removably insertable to varying -depths in said latter holders to form tiltable, translatable finger stalls, and separate referencing means on the latter carriage, reacting on the casing to move lengthwise of the respective holders by tilting of the latter, said latter referencing means being engageable with the respective finger stall bushings and thereby limiting penetration thereof into the holders at depths referencing the rims of the bushings to the casing at the side of the bushings adjacent the thumb stall aperture.

3. The gauge defined in claim 2, wherein the secondmentioned carriage means comprises a separate pivoted mounting for one of the finger stall bushing holders and means for moving said separate mounting in the latter carriage, hence in relation to the other finger stall bushing holder, in a direction parallel to said planes, including guide means on the latter carriage and actuator means having an element operable at will reacting between such latter carriage and said separate pivotal mounting.

4. The gauge defined in claim 3, and means guiding the latter carriage to move in translation, including guided elements engaging the edges of the second aperture as guides for such elements, and spring means reacting between the casing and such carriage and urging the carriage against the inside surface of the casing with such guide elements so engaged, said spring means removably interconnecting such carriage and casing to permit carlriage removal.

5. The gauge defined in claim 4, wherein the referencing means comprise slide rods longitudinally slidably mounted respectively on the finger stall holders and thumb stall holder on said sides thereof, spring elements reacting between said holders and rods to urge the latter inwardly of the casing, and stop elements projecting transversely inwardly of the respective holders, said bushings having shoulders engaging the respective stop elements to limit penetration of the bushings in their holders, said referencing means further having laterally projecting arm members thereon reacting on the casing.

6. In combination with the gauge defined in claim 2, and indexing plugs interchangeable with the bushings in the -respective holders, said plugs having an outer end face with indexing means marked thereon from which to locate digit stall hole centers directly, said plugs likewise being formed for referencing engagement by the respective referencing means.

7. The combination defined in claim 6, and trammel means comprising two generally parallel arms and an arm projecting oppositely therefrom, marking point means mounted on the respective arms to slide lengthwise thereon into relative positions corresponding to the digit stall bore centers, and means joining the arms and permitting articulated movement of the first two relative to the third and permitting relative movement between the first two arms to vary the spacing therebetween.

8. In a bowling ball grip gauge, a casing of at least partial spherical hollow form having two digit unit apertures therein substantially aligned on a great circle, an outwardly open generally radially disposed digit stall bushing holder, carriage means mounting said holder Within said casing and guided thereon to permit holder translational movement along an arcuate path in registry with one such aperture, pivot means in the movable portion of the carriage means supporting the holder therein to tilt variably in a plane extending parallel to said great circle, holder tilting means on the carriage, operable at will to vary the holder tilt angle in any translational position thereof, a bored digit bushing removably insertable to varying depths in the holder to form a tiltable, translatable digit stall, and referencing means on the carriage and cooperable means engageable thereby, on the side of the bushing adjacent the other digit unit aperture, limiting bushing penetration into the holder at a depth referencing the rim of such bushing to the casing at said side of the bushing, said referencing means including an element reacting on the casing and movable on the carriage lengthwise of the holder during tilting thereof, in different translational positions of the carriage, thereby variably limiting such bushing depth and maintaining said referencing of the bushing substantially constant.

9. The gauge defined in claim 8, wherein the referencing means comprises a slide rod longitudinally slidably mounted on the finger holder on said side thereof, a spring element reacting between said holder and rod to urge the latter inwardly of the casing, and a stop element projecting transversely inwardly of the holder, said bushing having a shoulder engaging the stop element to limit penetration of the bushing in the holder, said referencing means further having laterally projecting arm members thereon reacting on the casing.

10. In combination with the gauge defined in claim 9, an indexing plug interchangeable with the bushing in the holder, said plug having an outer end face with indexing means marked thereon from which to locate digit stall hole center directly, said plug likewise being formed for referencing engagement by the referencing means.

1l. In a bowling ball grip gauge, a finger stall bushing insertable slidably to variably limited depth in a bushing holder for adjustable tilting by the holder, said bushing being of generally cylindrical longitudinally bored form having on one side thereof near its outer end -a transversely projecting shoulder, and a flattened side surface extending lengthwise of the bushing from the base of said shoulder.

12. In a bowling ball grip gauge, the combination comprising a tiltably mounted finger stall bushing holder, a spherical casing apertured to accommodate said holder therein, a finger stall bushing insertable slidably to variably limited depth in said holder for adjustable tilting by the holder, surface referencing means having an element reacting from the casing and mounted to move lengthwise of the holder by tilting of the latter, said bushing being of generally cylindrical longitudinally bored form having on one side thereof near its outer end a transversely projecting shoulder, engageable with said referencing means to slide the bushing lengthwise of the holder by tilting of the latter, thereby to reference the rim of the bushing to the casing.

13. In a bowling ball grip gauge, the combination comprising a tiltably mounted finger stall bushing holder, a spherical casing apertured to accommodate said holder therein, a finger stall gauge plug insertable slidably to variably limited depth in said holder for adjustable tilting by the holder, surface referencing means having an element reacting from the casing and mounted to move lengthwise of the holder by tilting of the latter, said gauge plug being of generally cylindrical form having an outer end face with index marks arranged across one diameter of such end face and having a transversely projecting shoulder engageable with said referencing means to slide the gauge plug lengthwise of the holder by tilting of the latter, thereby to reference the rim of the gauge plug to the casing.

14. In a bowling ball grip gauge having a tiltable finger stall holder, a finger stallv gauge plug insertable slidably in the holder to variably limited depth therein for adjustable tilting by the holder, said gauge plug being of generally cylindrical form having an outer end face with index marks arranged across one diameter of such end face and having a transversely projecting shoulder on one side near its outer end, and a fiattened side surface extending lengthwise of the gauge plug from the base of said shoulder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,207,404 Hinkley July 9, 1940 2,314,811 Akin Mar. 23, 1943 2,693,034 Watson Nov. 2, 1954 2,709,853 Rassner June 7, 1955 

